System and method for layered delivery of media content quality

ABSTRACT

A method in a server for providing various Internet Protocol television signal qualities involves an IPTV signal having a first signal quality that is transmitted over a first network connection to a first device. A request to receive the IPTV signal over a second network connection at a second device with the IPTV signal having a second signal quality is received. A determination is made that the second network connection has sufficient bandwidth to transmit the IPTV signal at the second signal quality, and that the second device is capable of receiving IPTV signal. The transmission of the IPTV signal over the first network connection to the first device is ended. An endpoint for the transmission of the IPTV signal to the first device is determined. The IPTV signal is transmitted over the second network connection to the second device at the second signal quality beginning at the determined endpoint.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/624,109, filed Nov. 23, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to communications networks, andmore particularly relates to a system and a method for layered deliveryof media content quality.

BACKGROUND

An Internet Protocol television (IPTV) service provider can transmit anIPTV signal to a user via a central office, a serving area interface,and a residential gateway. The IPTV service provider can offer the usera variety of different television programs and/or movies. For example,the IPTV service provider can supply users with real-time televisionprograms that are typically available for the users to watch only at aspecific date and time. The IPTV service provider can also offer theusers on-demand movies that are available for an extended amount of timeand that are provided to the users upon request of the on-demand movie.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements illustrated in the Figures have not necessarily been drawn toscale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements areexaggerated relative to other elements. Embodiments incorporatingteachings of the present disclosure are shown and described with respectto the drawings presented herein, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)system;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are block diagrams of an embodiment of an IPTV network;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a portion of the ITPV system;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a method for providing an IPTV signal tomultiple devices at different signal qualities based on a respectivenetwork connection;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an alternative method for providing the IPTVsignal to multiple devices at different signal qualities based on arespective network connection; and

FIG. 7 is an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will bedescribed with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplaryembodiments. However, it should be understood that this class ofembodiments provides only a few examples of the many advantageous usesof the innovative teachings herein. In general, statements made in thespecification of the present application do not necessarily delimit anyof the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may applyto some inventive features but not to others.

FIG. 1 shows an IPTV system 100 including a client facing tier 102, anapplication tier 104, an acquisition tier 106, and an operations andmanagement tier 108. Each tier 102, 104, 106, and 108 is coupled to oneor both of a private network 110 and a public network 112. For example,the client-facing tier 102 can be coupled to the private network 110,while the application tier 104 can be coupled to the private network 110and to the public network 112 such as the Internet. The acquisition tier106 can also be coupled to the private network 110 and to the publicnetwork 112. Moreover, the operations and management tier 108 can becoupled to the public network 112.

The various tiers 102, 104, 106, and 108 communicate with each other viathe private network 110 and the public network 112. For instance, theclient-facing tier 102 can communicate with the application tier 104 andthe acquisition tier 106 via the private network 110. The applicationtier 104 can also communicate with the acquisition tier 106 via theprivate network 110. Further, the application tier 104 can communicatewith the acquisition tier 106 and the operations and management tier 108via the public network 112. Moreover, the acquisition tier 106 cancommunicate with the operations and management tier 108 via the publicnetwork 112. In a particular embodiment, elements of the applicationtier 104 can communicate directly with the client-facing tier 102.

The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with user equipment via aprivate access network 166, such as an Internet Protocol Television(IPTV) network. In an illustrative embodiment, modems such as a firstmodem 114 and a second modem 122 can be coupled to the private accessnetwork 166. The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with a firstrepresentative set-top box device 116 via the first modem 114 and with asecond representative set-top box device 124 via the second modem 122.The client-facing tier 102 can communicate with a large number ofset-top boxes over a wide geographic area, such as a regional area, ametropolitan area, a viewing area, or any other suitable geographic areathat can be supported by networking the client-facing tier 102 tonumerous set-top box devices. In one embodiment, the client-facing tier102 can be coupled to the modems 114 and 122 via fiber optic cables.Alternatively, the modems 114 and 122 can be digital subscriber line(DSL) modems that are coupled to one or more network nodes via twistedpairs, and the client-facing tier 102 can be coupled to the networknodes via fiber-optic cables. Each set-top box device 116 and 124 canprocess data received from the private access network 166 via an IPTVsoftware platform such as Microsoft® TV IPTV Edition.

The first set-top box device 116 can be coupled to a first displaydevice 118, such as a first television monitor, and the second set-topbox device 124 can be coupled to a second display device 126, such as asecond television monitor. Moreover, the first set-top box device 116can communicate with a first remote control 120, and the second set-topbox device 124 can communicate with a second remote control 128. In anexemplary, non-limiting embodiment, each set-top box device 116 and 124can receive data or video from the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate access network 166 and render or display the data or video atthe display device 118 or 126 to which it is coupled. The set-top boxdevices 116 and 124 thus may include tuners that receive and decodetelevision programming information for transmission to the displaydevices 118 and 126. Further, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 caninclude a set-top box processor 170 and a set-top box memory device 172that is accessible to the set-top box processor. In a particularembodiment, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 can also communicatecommands received from the remote controls 120 and 128 back to theclient-facing tier 102 via the private access network 166.

In an illustrative embodiment, the client-facing tier 102 can include aclient-facing tier (CFT) switch 130 that manages communication betweenthe client-facing tier 102 and the private access network 166 andbetween the client-facing tier 102 and the private network 110. Asshown, the CFT switch 130 is coupled to one or more data servers 132that store data transmitted in response to user requests, such asvideo-on-demand material. The CFT switch 130 can also be coupled to aterminal server 134 that provides terminal devices, such as a gameapplication server and other devices with a common connection point tothe private network 110. In a particular embodiment, the CFT switch 130can also be coupled to a video-on-demand (VOD) server 136.The application tier 104 can communicate with both the private network110 and the public network 112. In this embodiment, the application tier104 can include a first application tier (APP) switch 138 and a secondAPP switch 140. In a particular embodiment, the first APP switch 138 canbe coupled to the second APP switch 140. The first APP switch 138 can becoupled to an application server 142 and to an operation systems andsupport/billing systems and support (OSS/BSS) gateway 144. Theapplication server 142 provides applications to the set-top box devices116 and 124 via the private access network 166, so the set-top boxdevices 116 and 124 can provide functions such as display, messaging,processing of IPTV data and VOD material. In a particular embodiment,the OSS/BSS gateway 144 includes OSS data, as well as BSS data.The second APP switch 140 can be coupled to a domain controller 146 thatprovides web access, for example, to users via the public network 112.The second APP switch 140 can be coupled to a subscriber and systemstore 148 that includes account information, such as account informationthat is associated with users who access the system 100 via the privatenetwork 110 or the public network 112. In a particular embodiment, theapplication tier 104 can also include a client gateway 150 thatcommunicates data directly to the client-facing tier 102. In thisembodiment, the client gateway 150 can be coupled directly to the CFTswitch 130. The client gateway 150 can provide user access to theprivate network 110 and the tiers coupled thereto.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices 116 and 124 canaccess the system via the private access network 166 using informationreceived from the client gateway 150. The private access network 166provides security for the private network 110. User devices can accessthe client gateway 150 via the private access network 166, and theclient gateway 150 can allow such devices to access the private network110 once the devices are authenticated or verified. Similarly, theclient gateway 150 can prevent unauthorized devices, such as hackercomputers or stolen set-top box devices, from accessing the privatenetwork 110 by denying access to these devices beyond the private accessnetwork 166.

For example, when the set-top box device 116 accesses the system 100 viathe private access network 166, the client gateway 150 can verifysubscriber information by communicating with the subscriber and systemstore 148 via the private network 110, the first APP switch 138 and thesecond APP switch 140. Further, the client gateway 150 can verifybilling information and status by communicating with the OSS/BSS gateway144 via the private network 110 and the first APP switch 138. TheOSS/BSS gateway 144 can transmit a query across the first APP switch138, to the second APP switch 140, and the second APP switch 140 cancommunicate the query across the public network 112 to the OSS/BSSserver 164. After the client gateway 150 confirms subscriber and/orbilling information, the client gateway 150 can allow the first set-topbox device 116 access to IPTV content and VOD content. If the clientgateway 150 cannot verify subscriber information for the first set-topbox device 116, such as because it is connected to a different twistedpair, the client gateway 150 can deny transmissions to and from thefirst set-top box device 116 beyond the private access network 166.

The acquisition tier 106 includes an acquisition tier (AQT) switch 152that communicates with the private network 110. The AQT switch 152 canalso communicate with the operations and management tier 108 via thepublic network 112. In a particular embodiment, the AQT switch 152 canbe coupled to a live acquisition server 154 that receives televisioncontent, for example, from a broadcast service 156. Further, the AQTswitch can be coupled to a video-on-demand importer server 158 thatstores television content received at the acquisition tier 106 andcommunicate the stored content to the client-facing tier 102 via theprivate network 110.

The operations and management tier 108 can include an operations andmanagement tier (OMT) switch 160 that conducts communication between theoperations and management tier 108 and the public network 112. In theillustrated embodiment, the OMT switch 160 is coupled to a TV2 server162. Additionally, the OMT switch 160 can be coupled to an OSS/BSSserver 164 and to a simple network management protocol (SNMP) monitor166 that monitors network devices. In a particular embodiment, the OMTswitch 160 can communicate with the AQT switch 152 via the publicnetwork 112.

In a particular embodiment during operation of the IPTV system, the liveacquisition server 154 can acquire television content from the broadcastservice 156. The live acquisition server 154 in turn can transmit thetelevision content to the AQT switch 152 and the AQT switch can transmitthe television content to the CFT switch 130 via the private network110. Further, the television content can be encoded at the D-servers132, and the CFT switch 130 can communicate the television content tothe modems 114 and 122 via the private access network 166. The set-topbox devices 116 and 124 can receive the television content from themodems 114 and 122, decode the television content, and transmit thecontent to the display devices 118 and 126 according to commands fromthe remote control devices 120 and 128.

Additionally, at the acquisition tier 106, the VOD importer server 158can receive content from one or more VOD sources outside the IPTV system100, such as movie studios and programmers of non-live content. The VODimporter server 158 can transmit the VOD content to the AQT switch 152,and the AQT switch 152 in turn can communicate the material to the CFTswitch 130 via the private network 110. The VOD content can be stored atone or more servers, such as the VOD server 136.

When a user issues a request for VOD content to the set-top box device116 or 124, the request can be transmitted over the private accessnetwork 166 to the VOD server 136 via the CFT switch 130. Upon receivingsuch a request, the VOD server 136 can retrieve requested VOD contentand transmit the content to the set-top box device 116 or 124 across theprivate access network 166 via the CFT switch 130. In an illustrativeembodiment, the live acquisition server 154 can transmit the televisioncontent to the AQT switch 152, and the AQT switch 152 in turn cantransmit the television content to the OMT switch 160 via the publicnetwork 112. In this embodiment, the OMT switch 160 can transmit thetelevision content to the TV2 server 162 for display to users accessingthe user interface at the TV2 server. For example, a user can access theTV2 server 162 using a personal computer (PC) 168 coupled to the publicnetwork 112.

The domain controller 146 communicates with the public network 112 viathe second APP switch 140. Additionally, the domain controller 146 cancommunicate via the public network 112 with the PC 168. For example, thedomain controller 146 can display a web portal via the public network112 and allow users to access the web portal using the PC 168. Further,in an illustrative embodiment, the domain controller 146 can communicatewith at least one wireless network access point 178 over a data network176. In this embodiment, each wireless network access point 178 cancommunicate with user wireless devices such as a cellular telephone 184.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box devices can include aset-top box computer program 174 that is embedded within the set-top boxmemory device 172. The set-top box computer program 174 can containinstructions to receive and execute at least one user television viewingpreference that a user has entered by accessing an Internet user accountvia the domain controller 146. For example, the user can use the PC 168to access a web portal maintained by the domain controller 146 via theInternet. The domain controller 146 can query the subscriber and systemstore 148 via the private network 110 for account information associatedwith the user. In a particular embodiment, the account information canassociate the user's Internet account with the second set-top box device124. For instance, in an illustrative embodiment, the accountinformation can relate the user's account to the second set-top boxdevice 124 by associating the user account with an IP address of thesecond set-top box device, with data relating to one or more twistedpairs connected with the second set-top box device, with data related toone or more fiber optic cables connected with the second set-top boxdevice, with an alphanumeric identifier of the second set-top boxdevice, with any other data that is suitable for associating secondset-top box device with a user account, or with any combination ofthese.

FIG. 2 shows one example embodiment of a television distribution systemor network 200, using IPTV technology in this example but not limitedthereto, adapted to provide, among other things, the live televisioncontent features of the disclosed subject matter. The network 200 mayinclude a super hub office (SHO) 210 for acquisition and encoding ofvideo content, one or more video hub offices (VHO) 220 in eachdemographic market area (DMA), one or more intermediate offices (IO)230, one or more central offices (CO) 240 located in each metropolitanarea, and subscribers 250, who may be located in single or multipledwelling units. In one example embodiment, the network 200 may beconnected through a plurality of high speed communication links 260using physical transport layers such as fiber, cable, twisted pair, air,or other media.

In one example embodiment of the IPTV video delivery system, the SHO 210distributes content to one or more VHOs 220 which may be spread across awide geographic territory, such as an entire country. The SHO 210 may,for example, be in a central location for acquisition and aggregation ofnational-level broadcast television (or linear) programming. A redundantSHO 210 may be provided for backup in case of failure. The SHO 210 mayalso provide the central point of live television content acquisitionand insertion into the IPTV network. Linear programming may be receivedat the SHO 210 via satellite and processed for delivery to the VHO 220.Live television content may be received from various sources andprocessed/encoded to codec and bit-rate requirements for thecommunication network for transmission to the VHO 220 over the highspeed communication links. The VHOs 220 are the video distributionpoints within each DMA or geographic region.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary network architecture 300 between the CO 240and customer premises equipment (CPE) 320 of the subscriber 250 shown inFIG. 2. A serving area interface (SAI) or video ready access device(VRAD) 310 may be connected to the CO 240. SAI 310 may, for example, belocated in a weather-proof enclosure proximate the subscriber 250premises, and may include fiber-to-the-node (FTTN) equipment, such as adigital subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM). FTTN equipment mayalso be located in the CO 240. The customer premises equipment (CPE) 320includes, for example, a network interface device (not shown) and aresidential gateway (RG) 330, with a built-in very-high-bit-rate digitalsubscriber loop (VDSL) modem or optical network termination (ONT). Ineither case the RG 330 may be connected to the rest of the home set-topbox devices 116 and 124 via an internal network such as an Ethernet. Theset-top box devices 116 and 124 each have an associated remote controldevice 120 and 128 which provides data entry to the set-top box devicesto control the IPTV selections from the IPTV data streams.

FIG. 4 shows a portion 400 of the IPTV system including a computer 402,a cellular telephone 404, a cellular network 406, the private network110, the set-top box device 116, the VOD server 136, the liveacquisition server 154, the access network, and the residential gateway330. The residential gateway 330 is in communication with the VOD server136 via the access network 166, and is in communication with the liveacquisition server 154 via the access network and the private network110. The residential gateway 330 is also in communication with theset-top box device 116, the computer 402, and the cellular telephone404. Thus, the set-top box device 116, the computer 402, and thecellular telephone 404 can communicate with the VOD server 136 and thelive acquisition server 154 via the residential gateway 330, the accessnetwork 166, and the private network 110. Additionally, the cellulartelephone 404 can communicate with the VOD server 136 and the liveacquisition server 154 via the cellular network 406 and the privatenetwork 110.

The set-top box device 116, the computer 402, and the cellular telephone404 can receive IPTV video streams from the VOD server 136 and/or thelive acquisition server 154. Depending on the device and networkconnection used to receive the video signals, different quality levelsof the video stream may be available to a user. For example, if the userutilizes the cellular telephone 404 and the cellular network 406 toreceive video streams from the VOD server 136 and/or from the liveacquisition server 154, the video stream quality may not be as good ascompared to utilizing the set-top box device 116, the residentialgateway 330, the access network 166, and the private network 110. Thevideo stream quality can depend on the bandwidth available in thenetwork to deliver the video streams to the specified device. Forexample, the cellular network 406 can have less bandwidth available tothe user to receive a video stream than the access network 166, suchthat the video stream needs to be lower bandwidth when the video streamis to be displayed in real-time by the cellular telephone 404 via thecellular network rather than displayed by the set-top box device 116 viathe access network.

Additionally, the user can request a basic grade of initial servicequality, or a grade of service consistent with the user's real-timepresentation device requirement, while allowing for High-Definition (HD)content to be furnished to the user at a later time. For example, theuser may request a basic grade of initial service quality while viewinga video stream on the cellular telephone 404 via the cellular network406. However, as the user is viewing the video stream on the cellulartelephone 404, the VOD server 136 and/or the live acquisition server 154can transmit an HD video stream of the same content to the set-top boxdevice 116 or to the computer 402 for later use by the user. Therefore,the user can have access to the high quality video stream when the useraccesses the stored HD video stream on the set-top box device 116 or onthe computer 402.

The user can utilize the set-top box device 116 to receive high qualityvideo streams from the VOD server 136 and/or from the live acquisitionserver 154, and the user can request that one of the video streams bereceived by the cellular telephone. For example, the user can receive avideo stream on the set-top box device 116, but have to leave thepremises. Thus, the user may want to start receiving the video stream onthe cellular telephone 404. The video stream may be associated with alive event, may be a VOD video stream, may be a pay-per-view videostream, and the like. In this situation, the user can select to stopreceiving and/or displaying the video stream on the set-top box device116. The user can then select to have the video stream transmitted tothe cellular telephone 404. The transmission of the video stream caneither be started at the point in the video stream that was stopped atthe set-top box device 116 or at the current location of the videostream. For example, if the user is watching a live sporting event viathe set-top box device 116, the user can either continue receiving thevideo stream for the sporting event on the cellular telephone 404 at thelocation where viewing the set-top box device was stopped, or canreceive the video stream at a current live point in the video stream andsimply skip the intervening portion of the sporting event.

If the user wants to receive the video stream at the point last receivedby the set-top box device 116, the IPTV network can use programcheckpoints or elapsed time ticks to track the location that the set-topbox device 116 stopped receiving the video stream. The programcheckpoints and the elapsed time ticks can allow for the user tocontinue viewing the content of the video stream on different devices,such as the set-top box device 116, the computer 402, and the cellulartelephone 404, in vehicle devices, and the like. The set-top box device116 can place a program checkpoint within the video stream and transmitthe video stream back to the VOD server 136 or the live acquisitionserver 154, which in turn can use the program checkpoint as a startingpoint for transmitting the video stream to another device.Alternatively, the VOD server 136 or the live acquisition server 154 canmonitor the elapsed time ticks in the video stream to determine theamount of the video stream already transmitted to the set-top box device116, and the VOD server or the live acquisition server can starttransmitting the video stream to the other device beginning with thelast elapsed time tick in the video stream.

In an embodiment, the set-top box device 116, the computer 402, and thecellular telephone 404 are preferably all associated with the same useraccount, such that the VOD server 136 or the live acquisition server 154can determine that the user is permitted to switch between the differentdevices receiving the video stream. Alternatively, the user may have alogin name and password to enter via each device to access the videostream.

The user may also receive a video stream from the VOD server 136 or fromthe live acquisition server 154 without the signal quality of the videostream maximizing an available bandwidth of the IPTV network, the VODserver, and/or the live acquisition server but still have a qualitypresentation delivered to the user. The user may also want to access themedia content of the video stream in an HD format at a later time. Thus,the media content can be provided in a ‘layered’ format where the userobtains the minimal format in real-time and when additional bandwidth isavailable, the additional signal quality can be downloaded to theset-top box device 116. The set-top box device 116 can then synchronizethe media layer elements to create a video stream at a maximum signalquality level that can be available to the user at a later time. Theadditional signal quality can be for the audio portion, video portion,or integrated audio and video portions.

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of a method 500 for providing an IPTV signalto multiple devices at different signal qualities based on a respectivenetwork connection. At block 502, an IPTV signal is transmitted over afirst network connection to a first device, such as a set-top boxdevice. The IPTV signal can be transmitted over the first networkconnection with a first signal quality. A request to receive the IPTVsignal over a second network connection at a second device is receivedat block 504. The second device can be a cellular telephone, and thesecond network connection can be a cellular network. The IPTV signal canbe received over the second network connection with a second signalquality. At block 506, the second network connection is determined tohave sufficient bandwidth to transmit the IPTV signal to the seconddevice at a second signal quality, and the second device is determinedto be capable of receiving the IPTV signal at the second signal quality.

At block 508, the second device is determined to be associated with asame user account as the first device. The transmission of the IPTVsignal over the first network connection to the first device is ended atblock 510. At block 512, an endpoint for the transmission of the IPTVsignal over the first network connection to the first device isdetermined. The IPTV signal is transmitted over the second networkconnection to the second device at the second signal quality beginningat the determined endpoint at block 514.

FIG. 6 shows a flow diagram of an alternative method 600 for providingthe IPTV signal to multiple devices at different signal qualities basedon a respective network connection. At block 602, a request to receivean ITPV signal with a first signal quality over a first networkconnection at a first device, and to receive the IPTV signal over asecond network connection at a second device at substantially the sametime is received. The first device can be a cellular telephone, and thefirst network connection can be a cellular network. The second devicecan be a set-top box device, and the second network connection can be anIPTV network.

The second network connection is determined to have sufficient bandwidthto transmit the IPTV signal to the second device at the second signalquality, and the second device is determined to be capable of receivingthe IPTV signal at the second signal quality at block 604. At block 606,the second device is determined to be associated with the same useraccount as the first device. The ITPV signal is transmitted with thefirst signal quality over the first network connection to the firstdevice at block 608. At block 610, the IPTV is transmitted with thesecond signal quality over the second network connection to the seconddevice at substantially the same time.

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative embodiment of a general computer system700. The computer system 700 can include a set of instructions that canbe executed to cause the computer system to perform any one or more ofthe methods or computer based functions disclosed herein. The computersystem 700 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected, suchas by using a network, to other computer systems or peripheral devices.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 700 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, an STB, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptop computer,a desktop computer, a communications device, a wireless telephone, aland-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner, a facsimilemachine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, a web appliance,a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machine capable ofexecuting a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine. In a particular embodiment, thecomputer system 700 can be implemented using electronic devices thatprovide voice, video or data communication. Further, while a singlecomputer system 700 is illustrated, the term “system” shall also betaken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform one or more computer functions.

The computer system 700 may include a processor 702, such as a centralprocessing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), or both.Moreover, the computer system 700 can include a main memory 704 and astatic memory 706 that can communicate with each other via a bus 708. Asshown, the computer system 700 may further include a video display unit710 such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light emittingdiode (OLED), a flat panel display, a solid state display, or a cathoderay tube (CRT). Additionally, the computer system 700 may include aninput device 712 such as a keyboard, and a cursor control device 714such as a mouse. The computer system 700 can also include a disk driveunit 716, a signal generation device 718 such as a speaker or remotecontrol, and a network interface device 720 to communicate with anetwork 726. In a particular embodiment, the disk drive unit 716 mayinclude a computer-readable medium 722 in which one or more sets ofinstructions 724, such as software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 724 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 724 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 704,the static memory 706, and/or within the processor 702 during executionby the computer system 700. The main memory 704 and the processor 702also may include computer-readable media.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the FIGs. are to be regarded as illustrative rather thanrestrictive.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R..sctn.1.72(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will notbe used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Inaddition, in the foregoing Detailed Description of the Drawings, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description of the Drawings, with each claim standing on itsown as defining separately claimed subject matter.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosed subject matter. Thus, tothe maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosedsubject matter is to be determined by the broadest permissibleinterpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shallnot be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method in a server, comprising a processingsystem including a processor, for providing various interactivetelevision signal qualities, the method comprising: receiving a requestto receive an interactive television signal with a first signal qualityover a first network connection at a first device, and to receive theinteractive television signal with a second signal quality over a secondnetwork connection at a second device at substantially the same time;determining that the second network connection has a sufficientbandwidth to transmit the interactive television signal to the seconddevice at the second signal quality and that the second device iscapable of receiving the interactive television signal at the secondsignal quality; transmitting the interactive television signal with thefirst signal quality over the first network connection to the firstdevice; determining that the second device is associated with a sameuser account as the first device; and transmitting the interactivetelevision signal with the second signal quality over the second networkconnection to the second device for storage on the second device andlater use by a user of both the first and second devices atsubstantially the same time as transmitting the interactive televisionsignal to the first device.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the firstdevice is a cellular telephone.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein thesecond device is a set-top box device.
 4. The method of claim 1 whereinthe first network connection is a cellular network connection.
 5. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the second signal quality is greater than thefirst signal quality.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the interactivetelevision signal is transmitted over an internet protocol televisionnetwork.
 7. A server device, comprising: a processing system including aprocessor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations,comprising: receiving a request to receive an interactive televisionsignal with a first signal quality over a first network connection at afirst device, and to receive the interactive television signal with asecond signal quality over a second network connection at a seconddevice at substantially the same time; determining that the secondnetwork connection has a sufficient bandwidth to transmit theinteractive television signal to the second device at the second signalquality and that the second device is capable of receiving theinteractive television signal at the second signal quality; transmittingthe interactive television signal with the first signal quality over thefirst network connection to the first device; determining that thesecond device is associated with a same user account as the firstdevice; and transmitting the interactive television signal with thesecond signal quality over the second network connection to the seconddevice for storage on the second device and later use by a user of boththe first and second devices at substantially the same time astransmitting the interactive television signal to the first device. 8.The server device of claim 7, wherein the first device is a cellulartelephone.
 9. The server device of claim 7, wherein the second device isa set-top box device.
 10. The server device of claim 7, wherein thefirst network connection is a cellular network connection.
 11. Theserver device of claim 7, wherein the second signal quality is greaterthan the first signal quality.
 12. The server device of claim 7, whereinthe interactive television signal is transmitted over an internetprotocol television network.
 13. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executedby a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance ofoperations at a server, comprising: receiving a request to receive aninteractive television signal with a first signal quality over a firstnetwork connection at a first device, and to receive the interactivetelevision signal with a second signal quality over a second networkconnection at a second device at substantially the same time;determining that the second network connection has a sufficientbandwidth to transmit the interactive television signal to the seconddevice at the second signal quality and that the second device iscapable of receiving the interactive television signal at the secondsignal quality; transmitting the interactive television signal with thefirst signal quality over the first network connection to the firstdevice; determining that the second device is associated with a sameuser account as the first device; and transmitting the interactivetelevision signal with the second signal quality over the second networkconnection to the second device for storage on the second device andlater use by a user of both the first and second devices atsubstantially the same time as transmitting the interactive televisionsignal to the first device.
 14. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 13, wherein the first device is a cellulartelephone.
 15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 13, wherein the second device is a set-top box device.
 16. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein thefirst network connection is a cellular network connection.
 17. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein thesecond signal quality is greater than the first signal quality.
 18. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein theinteractive television signal is transmitted over an internet protocoltelevision network.